Judge To Rule On George Zimmerman Bond Thursday

Judge To Rule On George Zimmerman Bond Thursday

(CNN) — The judge overseeing the Trayvon Martin case in Florida will announce Thursday whether he will grant bond to George Zimmerman, a court official said.

Judge Kenneth Lester Jr. worked on the decision over the July 4th holiday and was finishing up his written decision Thursday morning, said Michelle Kennedy of Seminole County Court administration.

Zimmerman’s bail was revoked last month after Lester learned Zimmerman and his wife had failed to disclose more than $150,000 in donations from the public.

Zimmerman, who says he shot unarmed teen Martin in self-defense, could stay in jail until his eventual trial or could be released Thursday if he is granted bond.

He would not have to post the full amount. Only a percentage is needed to make bail.

Defense attorney Mark O’Mara argued last week that even though Zimmerman misled the court about his finances, he should not be jailed because the state’s case is weak and his claim of self-defense is strong.

O’Mara asked Lester to grant the same $150,000 bail he granted in April after Zimmerman’s wife and family testified they had little money.

Prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda countered that Zimmerman should remain in jail without bail because he was complicit in lying to the court and can’t be trusted.

“He quite frankly was manipulating the whole thing; he was using his wife as a conduit,” de la Rionda said.

Forensic accountant Adam Magill testified that thousands of dollars in donated funds flowed into and out of Zimmerman’s bank account in the days before the first bail hearing.

Magill said it appeared Zimmerman and his wife were speaking in code during recorded jailhouse telephone conversations about the amount of money involved. He also said that transferring funds between accounts could have been done to make it appear that Zimmerman had less money available for bail than he did.

De la Rionda reiterated that prosecutors believe Martin, an African-American, was an innocent victim who was accosted by Zimmerman without provocation. Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, acknowledged fatally shooting Martin in February after calling police to report a suspicious person. Zimmerman, who is white and Hispanic, said Martin attacked him.